Vacuum molded column-type display device for parallelepiped-shaped objects

ABSTRACT

The display device is comprised to a support base having a recess in the upper portion thereof for receiving the lower end of a vertically disposed display column having a plurality of downwardly angled display shelves on opposite faces. The shelves on one face are staggered with respect to the shelves on the opposite face to define a zig-zag configuration when viewed from the side and each shelf is adapted to hold a plurality of parallelepiped boxes disposed in side by side relation. The column is constructed of two complementary shells which are secured together in back to back relation.

United States Patent [1 1 Dogliotti Dec. 16, 1975 [54] VACUUM MOLDED COLUMN-TYPE DISPLAY DEVICE FOR PARALLELEPlPED-SHAPED OBJECTS [75] Inventor: Amilcare Dogliotti, Neive (Cuneo),

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 8, 1974 Italy 52920/74 [52] US. Cl. 211/71; 248/150 [51] Int. Cl. A47F 5/04; A47F 7/03 [58] Field of Search 211/71, 72, 177, 133, 13, 211/49 R, 49 D; D6/20; 248/150, 152, 174; 206/4412, 45

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,051,093 8/1936 Leigh 211/72 2,103,241 12/1937 Bell 211/71 3,865,247 2/1975 Neglia..... D219,4l2 12/1970 Neglia D6/20 Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant Examiner-Robert W. Gibson, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmSughrue, Rothwell, Mion, Zinn & Macpeak 57 ABSTRACT The display device is comprised to a support base having a recess in the upper portion thereof for receiving the lower end of a vertically disposed display column having a plurality of downwardly angled display shelves on opposite faces. The shelves on one face are staggered with respect to the shelves on the opposite face to define a zig-zag configuration when viewed from the side and each shelf is adapted to hold a plurality of parallelepiped boxes disposed in side by side relation. The column is constructed of two complementary shells which are secured together in back to back relation.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 SheetlofS 3,926,314

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet20f5 3,926,314

US. Patent Dec. 16,1975 Sheet 3 of5 3,926,314

US. Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet 4 of5 3,926,314

U.S. Patant Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet50f5 3,926,314

VACUUM MOLDED COLUMN-TYPE DISPLAY DEVICE FOR PARALLELEPIPED-SHAPED OBJECTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the production of a column-type display device which is intended for parallelepiped-shaped objects, more particularly, containers of candy products, and which has a strong, simple structure, is inexpensive to produce, offers a maximum view of the products displayed and facilitates removal thereof.

2. Prior Art Column-type display devices for parallelepipedshaped objects are known and are widely used for displaying boxes of mints. Such a prior art display device or tree is shown in U.S. Patent No. 219,412, granted Dec. 8, 1970. This tree while quite esthetic is somewhat impractical since the individual slots for the boxes make manual reloading of the tree difficult in practice. Usually the tree is loaded with boxes at the factory and thrown away after a single use thus creating economic waste and increasing the price of the product displayed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main features of the display device according to the present invention are that it is comprised of a vertically extending main body which is laterally defined by zig-zag shaped sides and is provided on its two main opposite faces with a plurality of open recesses defining shelves adapted to receive groups of parallelepipedshaped boxes disposed adjacent to each other. This allow the display device or tree to be easily restocked in the field so that it need not be thrown away after one use. The boxes may be prepacked or wrapped in multiple box units so that loading of each shelf may be quickly accomplished by setting one multibox unit thereon.

The display tree is comprised of a main body consisting of two complementary shells which are separately vacuum molded from plastic material and connected together by means of connecting flanges and a lower supporting base which is vacuum molded from plastic material and which has a molded cavity in the upper portion thereof in which the lower end of the vertically disposed main body is engaged in a form fitting manner. Two opposed teeth are formed in the walls of the cavity to releasably engage in two complementary recesses provided on the lower end of the main body to ensure that the main body is rigidly supported with respect to the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an side elevational view of a column-type display device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the base and of the lower part of the vertical display column;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view along the line V-V of FIG. 3;

2 FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view along the line VIVI of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view of a part of the vertical display column.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The display device according to the present invention comprises a vertically extending display column 1 and a lower supporting base 2 in which the lower end of the column isinserted and wedged in a releasable manner.

The column 1 has two complementary shells la, lb, which are separately vacuum molded from plastic material. Each shell is provided with outer lateral sides comprising double walls 3, 3a, 4, 4a, which are shaped in such a way that in the assembled position these form two zig-zag shaped lateral sides. Transverse walls which are inclined with respect to the vertical plane extend between the sides. These transverse walls are adapted to form two columns of superimposed recesses each of which has an inclined base and an open upper part. Reference numerals 5, 6 and 7 indicate the interconnected, adjacent walls of a recess belonging to one shell 1a and the reference numerals 8, 9 and 10 represent the corresponding walls of a recess of the other shell. The walls 6 and 9 of the two shells form the bottom walls of the recesses and extend beyond the vertical connecting plane of the shells so as to project into the recess defined by the walls of the adjacent shell. The walls 5, 7, 8 and 10 which fonn the side walls of the recesses are provided with longitudinal ribs 11, 12, l3, 14, designed to maintain the parallelepiped-shaped objects A which are inserted in groups into the inclined recesses in an upright position when adjacent objects are removed.

In the assembled state the recesses on one face of the main body are offset with respect to the recesses of the other face.

At their lower end, the two shells are provided with walls of reduced width 15, 16, 17 and 18, and tapered side walls 19 and 20, so as to form a wedge-shaped part adapted to be inserted in a recess in the supporting base 2.

At their upper end, the two shells are defined by inclined walls 21 and 26, surmounted by semi-cylindrical walls 23 and 28, connected to the above-mentioned inclined walls by means of vertical sections 22 and 27, and provided at their upper part with connecting flanges 24 and 29. The two semi-cylindrical walls 23 and 28 form a handle when the display device is assembled and this enables the display device to be lifted and carried.

The above-mentioned upper walls terminate in double walled lateral sides 31, against the outer faces of which are applied two sectored elements 32 bearing writing or information relating to the products dis- 7 played. The two shells 1a, lb, are provided with contin- 39. At the upper portion of the lateral walls 36 are two horizontal planar surfaces 40 connecting these walls with inner walls 41 which are symmetrically inclined downwardly toward each other. Each wall 41 has a transverse tooth 42 designed to releasably engage during assembly in corresponding recesses a, 17a, in the two lateral walls 15, 17, situated at the base of the column. The inner walls 41 are connected to two inner end walls 43 and to a bottom wall 44 so as to define a recess in the base, in which the lower end of the column is inserted in a form fitting manner. The bottom wall 44 and the inner end walls 43 are provided with grooves 45 adapted to receive the connecting flanges 33 and 34 on the column.

The lower element 46 which constitutes the bottom of the base is comprised of a horizontal wall 47, an inclined lateral edge 48 and a lower planar edge 49 which connects with the lower flange 39. The horizontal wall 47 is centrally provided with a groove 50 in which the groove 45 of the lower wall 44 of the upper element is engaged.

The display device which has been described is of simple construction and inexpensive to produce owing to the fact that complicated equipment for injection molding the device from plastic material is eliminated. It is also very light and has considerable mechanical strength.

The features of the present device can obviously be applied to other devices designed for the same purpose and employing the same innovative concept.

What is claimed is:

1. A display device for parallepiped-shaped objects comprising a vertically disposed display column having identical zig-zag shaped side walls and a central portion, the opposite faces of which are formed into a plurality of inclined open recesses adapted to receive groups of parallelepipedic objects disposed adjacent to each other, said column comprising two separate co mplementary vacuum molded plastic shells having peripheral connecting flanges and means for securing said flanges together, and a vacuum molded plastic suppo rting base having a molded recess in the upper surface thereof in which the lower end of the vertical column engages in a form-fitting manner, the molded recess of the base having two opposed teeth adapted to releasably engage in two recesses provided on the lower end of the column to stabilize the column with respect to the base.

2. A display device according to claim 1, wherein each shell is comprised of two side walls and a plurality of transverse walls which are interconnected in a continuous manner to the side walls and each other to form a series of inclined recesses in which the objects to be displayed are arranged in groups, said recesses having opposed walls provided with longitudinal ribs adapted to hold the individually displayed objects in place, each of said shells being provided at the lower end thereof with a reduced width tapered portion and at the upper end thereof with handle means for lifting and transpo rting the display device and each of said shells having peripheral flanges for securing said shells together.

3. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting base is comprised of two vacuum molded plastic elements, one of said elements having said recess for securing the lower end of said columns and the other element forming an internal reinforcement for said one element, each of said elements having flanges for connecting said elements together. 

1. A display device for parallepiped-shaped objects comprising a vertically disposed display column having identical zig-zag shaped side walls and a central portion, the opposite faces of which are formed into a plurality of inclined open recesses adapted to receive groups of parallelepipedic objects disposed adjacent to each other, said column comprising two separate complementary vacuum molded plastic shells having peripheral connecting flanges and means for securing said flanges together, and a vacuum molded plastic supporting base having a molded recess in the upper surface thereof in which the lower end of the vertical column engages in a form-fitting manner, the molded recess of the base having two opposed teeth adapted to releasably engage in two recesses provided on the lower end of the column to stabilize the column with respect to the base.
 2. A display device according to claim 1, wherein each shell is comprised of two side walls and a plurality of transverse walls which are interconnected in a continuous manner to the side walls and each other to form a series of inclined recesses in which the objects to be displayed are arranged in groups, said recesses having opposed walls provided with longitudinal ribs adapted to hold the individually displayed objects in place, each of said shells being provided at the lower end thereof with a reduced width tapered portion and at the upper end thereof with handle means for lifting and transporting the display device and each of said shells having peripheral flanges for securing said shells together.
 3. A display device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting base is comprised of two vacuum molded plastic elements, one of said elements having said recess for securing the lower end of said columns and the other element forming an internal reinforcement for said one element, each of said elements having flanges for connecting said elements together. 